- The NHTSA has taken the first step towards banning some Chinese airbags.
- Inflators made by DTN have reportedly killed at least 10 Americans.
- Faulty inflators have turned up in Chevy Malibus and Hyundai Sonatas.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has determined some airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Safety Technology Co., Ltd (DTN) have a defect that impacts safety. This comes after 12 inflator ruptures that have resulted in ten fatalities as well as two severe injuries.
The government says the airbags are being brought into America by unknown importers, “likely illegally.” While there are still some questions, the United States is weighing a permanent sales ban.
More: US Warns Repaired Cars Could Be Hiding Deadly Chinese Airbags
The initial determination is part of this process and it kicks off a public comment period. DTN will also have the opportunity to dispute the allegations. After this process wraps up, the NHTSA will make its final determination and this could result in the inflators – including those installed in airbags and sold separately – being banned.
The government went on to say these “substandard Chinese airbag inflators” explode sending large metal fragments into drivers’ chests, necks, eyes, and faces. They’ve been under investigation since last October and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is still trying to determine how many have entered the United States.
All of the known incidents have occurred in either Chevrolet Malibu or Hyundai Sonata vehicles, but there’s a possibility the risk isn’t limited to these models. The government has previously said many of these had salvage or rebuilt titles.
This suggests repair firms could have been trying to save money by buying sketchy airbags that might have been imported illegally. Regardless, the results are deadly as the government has previously said drivers are getting killed in “otherwise survivable crashes.”
Unfortunately, it’s hard to know what inflator is inside your vehicle. Despite this, the NHTSA is urging used vehicle owners to lookup history reports and determine if their car was previously involved in an accident. If the vehicle was in a crash and an airbag deployed since 2020, they should get the model inspected “immediately to ensure the airbag is a legitimate replacement equivalent to the original.”
If a DTN inflator is found during inspection, the vehicle shouldn’t be driven until it is replaced. People are also being encouraged to contact their local FBI field office to report it.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, “Our initial investigation into the use of illegal Chinese airbags in auto shops has revealed a disturbing trend: these substandard parts are killing American families.”
Lawsuits Have Already Been Filed
Given the numerous fatalities, it’s little surprise that lawsuits have already been filed. Morgan & Morgan’s Andrew Parker Felix is behind three of them and released a statement saying, “NHTSA’s acknowledgment of the dangers posed by these airbag inflators is a critical first step toward preventing these illegal, counterfeit devices from entering the stream of commerce and making their way into vehicles.”
Felix added, “In each case we’ve reviewed, the collision should have been survivable. Instead, the airbag inflator allegedly acted like a grenade, turning what should be a life-saving device into a death sentence.”
